If you're looking for a solidly middle-class Boston suburb with something to offer young professionals, families, and everyone in between, Stoneham, MA might be the ideal spot you've been looking for. Located just nine miles north of downtown Boston, Stoneham offers an easy commute via car or rail. Its relatively small size (just about 21,000 residents) and cozy, walkable downtown give it a touch of quintessential New England charm, and beautiful homes at a median list price of $449,000 make it one of the more popular locales to buy a home and put down roots.
Stoneham is one of few Boston suburbs in which the median list price for homes has actually fallen in the last five years. After dropping from $559,900 to $399,000 between 2013 and 2014, median list prices ticked up and have continued on a mostly upward trend, but prices are still slightly lower than they were in 2014. That makes now a promising time to buy, as Boston suburbs retain their value exceptionally well and an upturn is likely.
The vast majority of homes in Stoneham are single-family residences built around the turn of the 20th century. You'll find cozy colonials and cape cods and a few grandiose Victorian residences among the town's architecture. A few condominium buildings built in the 1960's and 70's are also an option, with typically small (1,000 square feet or less) units priced in the range of $200-300 thousand.
Stoneham really shines when it comes to entertainment options--for pretty much everyone. North Shore Magazine lists The Book Oasis, Redstone Shopping Center, and Burlington Mall--just a ten minute drive away in neighboring Burlington--as some of the locals' favorite shopping stops. Redstone Shopping Center offers a few mainstream retail stores, and you'll find many smaller boutique-type shops scattered throughout Stoneham, especially downtown.
The Stoneham Theater on Main Street hosts plays, concerts, and other special events regularly, and a world of dining from Indian cuisine at Rang Indian Bistro to mouth-watering Italian pastries at Colarusso's Bakery are all within walking or quick driving distance. For larger, more mainstream shopping opportunities, you'll want to drive to Burlington Mall or even take the T (the local commuter rail) to Boston's downtown shopping destination, Union Square.
For joggers, bikers, or anyone who loves getting outside during their free time, Stoneham has ample green space, jogging trails, and even wilderness, thanks to the Middlesex Fells Reservation. Middlesex Fells, just called "the Fells" by locals, encompasses over 2,500 acres of wilderness that runs between several area cities. The Fells offers miles of trails for hiking, biking, and even snowhoeing or cross-country skiing in the winter. Kayaking or canoeing on Spot Pond within the reservation is also a favorite among Stoneham residents and those who come from Boston for the chance to get outside.
Thirty-acre Whip Hill park offers Stoneham residents another lovely escape from town and city life. For bikers, the local bike shop City Cycle offers excellent bike maintenance and sales for Stoneham's biking community. And while it's not necessarily a workout opportunity, Stoneham Zoo is one of the top family-friendly stops around and a fantastic place to spend a Saturday outdoors. Special seasonal activities like the Zoolights which run from November through New Year's make a fun, brilliant outing whether you have kids or not.
Construction of the new Tri-Community Greenway is underway, and the completed project will result in a beautiful, well-maintained parkway that's perfect for runners, bikers, and anyone wanting to get outside and go for a stroll.
During its early years, Stoneham was a major center for shoemaking as well as for the pharmaceutical industry. The E.L. Patch Company was once the town's largest employer, manufacturing a variety of pharmaceutical products that were marketed throughout New England. The town was also a center for shoe manufacturing, and it enjoyed a brief stint as the "Detroit of New England" thanks to a major automobile manufacturing plant. Many of these early industrial centers were destroyed by a fire in the early 1900's.
Today, the majority of residents commute to Boston or surrounding areas. The average commute in Stoneham is just 24 minutes, the lowest among the top 10 Boston suburbs, thanks to its central location and ease of access. Top employers within the city limits of Stoneham itself include Bear Hill Nursing Center, Life Care Center of Stoneham, Shaw's Supermarket, and Stoneham High School.
Stoneham residents love their town, saying that its safety and proximity to everything they need makes it the perfect place to put down roots and to raise a family. No matter where you are in your home search, it helps to have an ally who knows the area. That's where Movoto's area experts come in. Talking to a local who's familiar with Stoneham's neighborhoods and real estate market can help you find the perfect place to call home.
